(5) Glasser – The Ring – My single greatest regret as a music fan this year was sleeping on this album up until about three weeks ago. If I got this in time for the summer, it would probably have been even higher on this list. This is one of the most talented groups I’ve listened to in a while and if you aren’t stoked to go see them after watching the video at the bottom of this post we probably can’t be friends…

(4) Kings of Leon – Come Around Sundown – I said it before and I’ll say it again, anyone who downplays Kings of Leon’s songwriting ability saying they are just a pop rock machine with a country twang needs to listen to “The End” and reevaluate. There is so much soul and depth to this song it’s amazing, right down to the old-time back porch piano outro…

(3) The Black Keys – Brothers – Unless you’ve been on an extended heroin binge or spiritual expedition for this entire year you’ve heard this record and know exactly why it’s up here. It’s good to see these guys finally get the credit they deserve, they’ve been killing it on a smaller scale for almost a decade now.

Standout Track: Next Girl, Tighten Up, Ten Cent Pistol

Recommended If You Like: Kings of Leon, The White Stripes, The Raconteurs

(2) Minus The Bear – OMNI – I’ve seen these guys live more than any other band not from New York in the past five years. This album is their best. It’s dance-y, it’s technically savvy, and Dave Knudson is my all time favorite guitar man crush.

Standout Track: Broken China, My Time, Animal Backwards

Recommended If You Like: I really don’t know who to compare these guys to, just get the friggin’ album and all their others for that matter.

(1) Arcade Fire – Suburbs – Surprise, surprise right? These guys have been top 2 in pretty much every ‘best of’ list I’ve seen this year. Guess what, there’s a reason for it. The Arcade Fire is the best band out there not called Radiohead. They’re music is earthy and natural, yet still progressive and unconventional. These guys manage to take vagabond gypsy rock and make it sound U2-esque. Win Butler and crew could be the best band to come out of the 00’s….true story.

Honorable Mention: Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – okay, soI admit this one deserved to make the actual list. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it though, he’s just such a douche. Oh well, I guess if Bon Iver can get over that and work with him on this record, I should be able to give him an honorable mention slot. He gets no purchase link though!

(10) Kele Okereke – The Boxer – The genius behind one of my favorite bands of all time (Bloc Party) used his solo debut to completely reverse the BP format. Where BP was post punk indie rock filled with a touch of electro house, this album was electro house with a touch of post punk indie rock. Even flipping styles around Okereke can do no wrong.

(9) Freelance Whales – Weathervanes – Quirky indie rock with sugar based synth and melodies so innocent and poppy, Justin Bieber would probably call it soft. Nevertheless the song Hannah was my most played song on iTunes for the past three months.

(8) Foals- Total Life Forever – Foals is like a happy-go-lucky version of Yeasayer. They’re indie and experimental but something in the vocals reminds me of the Fleet Foxes. Either way, it’s a shame this album was slept on so hard this year. Hopefully they’ll pull a Mumford & Sons and be able to find more success with it in its second year.

(7) Circa Survive – Blue Sky Noise – ‘Juturna’ blew my mind when it came out. ‘On Letting Go’ did not. ‘Blue Sky Noise’ is probably the most poppy out of the three, but it’s also the best. I highly recommend checking these guys out live, Anthony Green is about as true to form of a front man as you’re going to find and somehow manages to be on point with that high-pitched growl even live (no easy task).

(6) Kid Cudi – Man On The Moon II: Legend of Mr. Rager – Don’t let the shittiness of the title dissuade you, this album is amazing. I don’t care what anyone says Kudi is the most innovative mind in Hip Hop right now.